[Page 1 illegible — archival placeholder: "Some or all of the pages of this file are wholly or in part illegible. We have not been able either to locate a better copy of the document, or to enhance its legibility electronically."] Fort Pitt 20 Januy. 1792 Sir Yesterday the Escort Sent to Fort — Franklin on the 8^th Instant with provisions Returned, found all well there; Letters from Lieu^t Jeffers, which are herewith enclosed, will Inform you of the State of that Post. I Requested Lieu^t Jeffers to inform me of the Quantity of Provisions on hand in order to see that your Instructions are Complied with, and have now [undecipherable] his Return of the 13^th Instant, I shall see that the full quantity Ordered is forwarded by the detachment that is to Reinforce that Garrison — A Capt [undecipherable] on the 23^d. I suppose it not necessary to apply for a Detach[men]t [undecipherable] especially as the Snow is [undecipherable] three feet deep at French Creek, through which the Militia are very unwilling to March — The last Detach^t has occasioned a Charge for Foirage, Fuel, Straw, [undecipherable], while detained here a few days & Pack Boxes to carry their [undecipherable] Baggage &c — The Acct^s have been presented to me, but as I have not had Orders, Respecting Militia Accts have not taken them up, & have to Request Instructions on this Head. In your last, Sir, You observe that a Post Established at Canawaga Creek, would have a tendency to Secure the fidelity of Complanters adherents, it Certainly would have a good Effect, but Sir, would not a Post Established at Presque Isle be attended with a double advantage, it would give confidence to the Northern Indians, in General, but of the communication, between them, and the South Western Tribes, and facilitate future Operations — I am pretty well Ajured that Stores & provisions Can be transported from this place to Presque Isle for Ten Shillings p^r [undecipherable]. Presque Bay is an Excellent Harbour, and a very Convenient place for building Vessels, proper for Navigating the Lakes. Freight from Presque to the Mouth of the Allegane River, or any other place between the River & Detroit, will be very Inconsiderable, but great advantage in transporting Stores & provisions this way, is that Pack Horses & Waggons are necessary only fifteen Miles in all that distance — [undecipherable] from [undecipherable] to Presque Isle, another advantage in this Route, is that it is [undecipherable] through [undecipherable] having Reason to hope a friendly Country, the Settlement on Conawango a Branch of French Creek, will soon afford forage for all the Horses that may be necessarily Employed between [undecipherable] & Presque Isle — I am pleased to learn the [undecipherable] Steps taken [undecipherable] Opinion on a Matter of such Importance — Complanters People, have some here along with the Militia — They are highly pleased, with the Accounts of Goods, Comeing forward for their People, They seem Anxious to be Employed in the Service of the United States, & say they can Inlist the greatest part of their Nation to fight for Us — I am Sir Your Obed^t Hum^b. Ser^vt [Hon^ble Maj^r Gen^l H Knox S. of W. —] Isaac Craig —